Insulating splice protector



Oct. 16, 1951 J. J. SIGMAN 2,571,771

INSULATING SPLICE PROTECTOR Filed Feb. 16, 1948 INVEIYTOR.

Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to'insulating and protecting the joints ofspliced electrical conductors and has more particular reference tocovers for tail joints and the like.

In this type of joint or splice the exposed wire ends are twistedtogether and soldered and the more common practice is to wrap tape aboutthe splice to provide an insulating cover. Also it has been known toprovide caps or covers of rubber or other insulating material forapplication to the twisted or spliced ends of the conductor wires. And,although such insulations when properly applied may meet therequirements of insurance underwriters, nevertheless it is found thatthey are not always effective over long periods and particularly whensubject to adverse weather and moisture conditions and also vibrationconditions.

The principal object of my invention is, therefore, to provide animproved insulating splice protector which will effectively andsatisfactorily maintain the desired insulation protection.

Another object is to provide an insulating splice protector of this kindespecially adapted for its safety qualities, that is, its ability tomaintain the desired insulation regardless of interfering influencessuch as moisture and weather conditions under which the expansion andcontraction of the cover or sheath components in time cause looseningand displacement, particularly where tape and other bands or strips arewound or tied to secure the insulation. This safety feature of myinvention is also intended to eliminate loosening of a cover subject tovibration conditions such as occurs in machines, buildings, and thelike.

Another object is to provide an insulating splice protector which whenapplied is efiectively locked against displacement and cannot be removedor impaired except by deliberate manual application.

Another object is to provide an insulating splice protector of the kinddescribed which is constructed in such simple and novel manner as topermit quick and easy application and also to permit manufacture at acomparatively low cost.

Other objects and attendant advantages will be appreciated by thoseskilled in this art as the invention becomes better understood byreference to the following description when considered in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective viewof one embodiment of an insulating splice protector, embodying myinvention;

Figure 2 is a section through the protector taken substantially on thesection line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a conventional tail joint or splice of a kind to which myinvention is applied;

Figure 4 is a side view showing the first step in applying the protectorto the tail joint.

Figures 5 and 6 are side views showing further steps in applying theprotector; and

Figure '7 is a view from the front, that is, looking from the left ofFigure 6, showing the protector fully applied.

The embodiment shown in the drawings is illustrative of the principleand advantages of my invention, but it should be understood that theinvention may be applied in other embodiments and modifications. As hereportrayed my invention contemplates a one-piece molded body ofinsulation material designated generally by H, preferably of rubber orsuitable synthetic materials. This body is shaped to provide a coverportion l2 for receiving and covering the tail joint of splicedconductors or of other spliced members, a retaining portion 13 shaped toengage the cover portion and to further protect the splice, and aconnecting portion l4 between the portions l2 and i3 preferably elasticor resilient and arranged to yieldingly retain the portion l3 engagedwith the portion [2. In this embodiment each portion l2 and I3 is in thenature of a socket or pocket member, open at one end and closed at theopposite. The portion [2 has an elongated passage l5 of comparativelysmall diameter to provide a tight fit to the tail joint l6 of thespliced conductor wires IT. Ihe passage 15 preferably merges into anoutwardly tapered opening [8 designed to receive and protect theadjacent sheath ends [9 of the conductors. The portion [3 preferably hasa tapered socket 2i adapted to fit over the exterior closed end of theportion l2 when applied in the manner presently to be described. Theportion 14 serves as a connector between the socket portions to retainthem in cooperative relation, also as a protector band in the crotchbetween the conductors and as a further sheath to the open end of thecover portion 12, and further as a yieldable means to retain the socketportion l3 in the holding or locked position.

The first step in applying the protector is to insert the tail jointfully into the socket passage [5, as shown in Figure 4. V The freesocket portion I3 is then passed through the crotch of the conductors l1and the portion [4 is drawn tightly down into the crotch to effectivelyseal and protect this area as in Figures 5-6. When sufficiently pulleddown and reversed again to its upright direction the socket 2| isinserted over the closed end of the socket portion [2 until fully seatedthereon, as snown in Figure 7. In this condition the socket portion 13is retained by its frictional engagement on the portion [2 and also bythe elastic pull of the connecting portion 14. The portion [3 alsoprovides a further protecting sheath and cover, reinforcing the coverprovided by the portion 12.

This construction provides a most effective insulating cover for thespliced portion and the several component portions of the cover are sosecurely applied, locked, and retained, as to be proof against looseningor displacement by vibration, accident, abrasion, or the most adverseweather conditions. In addition to these features, the several portionsof the cover provide a most effective seal and protection to the splicedconnection between the conductors. These several portions of the coverare retained and locked in position not only by the socket fitting ofone to the other but by the pull exerted in a direction to hold theportion 13 seated over the projecting end of the portion 12. Thus, inorder to remove the cover the portion I3 must be forcibly pulled downagainst the tension of the connecting portion Hi, until entirely clearof the portion 12. The portions l3 and I4 may now be passed back throughthe crotch of the conductors to a position corresponding with Figure 4,wherein the socket portion [2 is free to be removed.

It will be apparent to those skilled in this art that modifications maybe made in the shape, size, and materials, in adapting my invention todifferent splices and to different manufacturing conditions. Forexample, the cover would be made in different sizes to suit differentranges of conductor sizes and splice sizes. Also, the principle hereindisclosed may be embodied in differentshapes to suit different conductorconditions. Also,.in the manufacture of this protector the structure maybe fabricated from plural parts or materials, or provided withreinforcements to take care of heavy duty insulation requirements.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that changes may be made indetails of construction without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as expressed in the appended claims, in which- I claim:

1. An insulating protector for the spliced ends of conductors,comprising an insulating cover member provided with a pocket forreceiving and covering the spliced ends of the conductors, a deformablemember connected to said insulating cover member and adapted to bestretched around the crotch between the conductors, thereby to hold saidinsulating cover member in place on the spliced ends of the conductors,a second cover member connected to said deformable member at a pointspaced from said first-named cover member and provided with a pocket forreceiving and covering said first-named cover member to hold saiddeformable member stretched around the crotch between the conductors.

2. An insulating protector for the spliced ends of conductors,comprising an insulating cover member provided with a pocket forreceiving and covering the spliced ends of the conductors, saidinsulating cover member being provided with an elongated relativelynarrow pocket passage which terminates at its entrance end in a flaredthe spliced ends of the conductors, and a second cover member connectedto the other end of said deformable member and provided with a taperedpocket for receiving and covering said first- V named cover member tohold said deformable member stretched around the crotch between theconductors.

3. A one-piece insulating protector for the spliced ends of conductors,said protector being formed of thin walled molded elastic insulatingmaterial and comprising a cover member provided with a pocket forreceiving and covering the spliced ends of the conductors, a connectingmember connected tosaid cover member and adapted to be stretched aroundthe crotch between the conductors to hold said cover member in placeon'the spliced ends of the conductors, and a second cover memberconnected to said connecting member at a point spaced from saidfirst-named cover member and provided with a pocket for receiving andcovering said firstnamed cover member to hold said connecting memberstretched around the crotch between the conductors.

4. A one-piece insulating protector for the spliced ends of conductors,said protector being formed throughout of thin walled molded elasticinsulating material to have elasticity in all of its parts andcomprising a cover member provided with a pocket for receiving andcovering the spliced ends of the conductors, said cover member beingprovided with an elongated relatively narrow pocket passage whichterminates at its entrance end in a flared opening, a connecting memberconnected at one end to said cover member and normally extending awayfrom said cover member substantially at right angles to the longitudinalaxis of said pocket passage, said connecting member being adapted to bestretched around the crotch between the conductors to hold said covermember in place on the spliced ends of the conductors, and a secondcover member connected to the other end of said connecting member andprovided with a tapered pocket for receiving and covering saidfirst-named cover member to hold said connecting member stretched aroundthe crotch between the conductors.

JOHN J. SIGMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,176,288 Hamilton Mar. 21, 19161,354,905 Hamilton Oct. 5, 1920 2,182,492 Hall Dec. 5, 1939 2,308,286Joyce Jan. 12, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 201,703 GreatBritain Aug. 9, 1923 470,233 Great Britain Aug. 11, 1937

